MCOG forwards 13 unmet transit needs to Mendocino Transit Authority for analysis

The Mendocino Council of Governments on Feb. 10 voted to forward a package of 13 recommended "unmet transit needs" to the Mendocino Transit Authority for further analysis and possible inclusion in next fiscal year funding decisions.

The action follows a staff report and the required public hearing under the Transportation Development Act process. Janet Orth, MCOG deputy director and chief financial officer, told the board the packet included proofs of publication for required notices and summarized the sources of the recommended needs: six items from the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council workshop and seven items collected by Mendocino Transit Authority through its public outreach.

The motion the board approved directed staff to treat the testimony heard, including the SS TAC workshop list and written testimony, as recommended unmet transit needs that appear to qualify under MCOG’s adopted definitions and to forward them to MTA for analysis. The board also earlier found that notice for the hearing was proper after staff said the hearing had been re-noticed when the meeting date changed.

Public input at the hearing included a written submission read into the record asking that the town identified in the submission as "Kompshy" be given priority consideration; the submission stated, "The time is long overdue to address the transit needs of the town of Kompshy." Orth said MTA may tie that request to a SS TAC item on mobility for remote coastal communities. An on‑the‑record public commenter urged the board and MTA to reconsider potential hub locations, naming the Masonite site in Ukiah as a centrally located parcel that consultants previously evaluated for a transit hub.

Board members and staff emphasized that forwarding the items does not itself commit funds. Orth explained that MTA will analyze the forwarded list to determine which items meet the board’s adopted definition of "unmet transit needs" and which are "reasonable to meet." The analysis will be reviewed by MCOG’s Transit Productivity Committee and SS TAC and returned to the board as part of the regular budget process; any needs found reasonable to meet would be considered for funding during MCOG’s June budget adoption process.

Motion and votes - Motion: "That the testimony heard includes the unmet transit needs that appear to qualify under MCOG's adopted definitions and to forward those to MTA for analysis." Moved and seconded. Vote recorded: Director Madeline Klein — Aye; Director Tom Allman — Aye; Director Raffaean (Fort Bragg representative) — Yes; Director Heather Chris — Aye; Caltrans District 1 representative Tasha Alstrand — Aye; Chair John Haschak — Aye. Outcome: approved.

- Prior procedural motion: Board found the re-noticed hearing constituted proper notice. Motion moved and seconded; vote recorded: Director Klein — Aye; Director Allman — Aye; Director Raffaean — Raffaean (yes); Director Heather Chris — Aye; Caltrans Tasha Alstrand — Aye; Chair John Haschak — Aye. Outcome: approved.

What happens next MTA staff will analyze the list to determine which items meet MCOG’s definition of unmet transit need and whether any are reasonable to meet given available funding, alternatives and cost. That analysis will be reviewed by the Transit Productivity Committee and SS TAC and returned to the board in the months leading to the June budget adoption, when funding decisions tied to reasonable‑to‑meet findings are made.

Speakers - Janet Orth, Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer, Mendocino Council of Governments (staff report) - "Sue" (written testimony read into the record; name as provided in packet) - Public commenter (unnamed in the record) who spoke in person about a potential transit hub location - Note: Mendocino Transit Authority executive director Jacob King was referenced by staff as the MTA staff lead who will perform the analysis.

Clarifying details - Number of recommended items forwarded for analysis: 13 (6 from SS TAC workshop + 7 collected by MTA). Source: staff report read by Janet Orth. - Timeline: analysis by MTA and review by MCOG committees will proceed ahead of June budget adoption; MCOG makes final reasonable-to-meet funding decisions at budget adoption.

Proper names [Mendocino Council of Governments (agency), Mendocino Transit Authority (agency), Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (advisory body), Caltrans District 1, Masonite site (location cited by public commenter)].

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